Magic Johnson vs. Bob McAdoo Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bob McAdoo and Magic Johnson, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Magic Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Bob McAdoo, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Bob McAdoo had his rookie season in 1972-73. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player		 Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96
Bob McAdoo 14 9 1972-73 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1979-801972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 77 36.3 18.0 2.2 5.6 7.7 7.3 2.4 0.5 4.0 2.8 6.5 12.3 .530 0.1 0.4 .226 4.9 6.0 .810
Bob McAdoo 80 32.0 18.0 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.2 7.3 16.2 .452 - - - 3.4 4.4 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 16 41.1 18.3 3.3 7.3 10.5 9.4 3.1 0.4 4.1 2.9 6.4 12.4 .518 0.1 0.5 .250 5.3 6.6 .802
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1980-811973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBraves Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 37 37.1 21.6 2.7 5.9 8.6 8.6 3.4 0.7 3.9 2.7 8.4 15.9 .532 0.1 0.5 .176 4.6 6.1 .760
Bob McAdoo 74 43.0 30.6 3.8 11.3 15.1 2.3 1.2 3.3 - 3.4 12.2 22.3 .547 - - - 6.2 7.8 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 3 42.3 17.0 2.7 11.0 13.7 7.0 2.7 1.0 3.7 4.7 6.3 16.3 .388 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.7 .650
Bob McAdoo 6 45.2 31.7 2.3 11.3 13.7 1.5 1.0 2.2 - 4.2 12.7 26.5 .478 - - - 6.3 7.8 .809

Season 3
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1981-821974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBraves Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 78 38.3 18.6 3.2 6.4 9.6 9.5 2.7 0.4 3.7 2.9 7.1 13.3 .537 0.1 0.4 .207 4.2 5.6 .760
Bob McAdoo 82 43.2 34.5 3.7 10.3 14.1 2.2 1.1 2.1 - 3.4 13.4 26.1 .512 - - - 7.8 9.7 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 14 40.1 17.4 3.9 7.4 11.3 9.3 2.9 0.2 3.1 3.6 5.9 11.2 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.6 .828
Bob McAdoo 7 46.7 37.4 3.6 9.9 13.4 1.4 0.9 2.7 - 4.1 14.9 30.9 .481 - - - 7.7 10.4 .740

Season 4
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1982-831975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBraves Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 79 36.8 16.8 2.7 5.9 8.6 10.5 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.5 6.5 11.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 4.8 .800
Bob McAdoo 78 42.7 31.1 3.1 9.3 12.4 4.0 1.2 2.1 - 3.8 12.0 24.6 .487 - - - 7.2 9.4 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 15 42.9 17.9 3.4 5.1 8.5 12.8 2.3 0.8 4.3 3.3 6.7 13.7 .485 0.0 0.7 .000 4.5 5.4 .840
Bob McAdoo 9 45.1 28.0 3.4 10.8 14.2 3.2 0.8 2.0 - 4.1 10.8 23.9 .451 - - - 6.4 9.1 .707

Season 5
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1983-841976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersBuffalo Braves, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 67 38.3 17.6 1.5 5.9 7.3 13.1 2.2 0.7 4.6 2.5 6.6 11.6 .565 0.1 0.4 .207 4.3 5.3 .810
Bob McAdoo 72 38.9 25.8 2.8 10.1 12.9 2.8 1.1 1.4 - 3.6 10.3 20.1 .512 - - - 5.3 7.2 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 21 39.9 18.2 1.2 5.4 6.6 13.5 2.0 1.0 3.8 3.4 7.2 13.0 .551 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 4.8 .800
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1984-851977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 77 36.1 18.3 1.2 5.0 6.2 12.6 1.5 0.3 4.0 2.0 6.5 11.7 .561 0.1 0.5 .189 5.1 6.0 .843
Bob McAdoo 79 40.3 26.5 3.0 9.8 12.8 3.8 1.3 1.6 4.4 3.8 10.3 19.8 .520 - - - 5.9 8.2 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 19 36.2 17.5 1.0 6.1 7.1 15.2 1.7 0.2 4.0 2.5 6.1 11.9 .513 0.1 0.4 .143 5.3 6.2 .847
Bob McAdoo 6 39.7 23.8 1.8 7.8 9.7 3.8 1.2 2.0 3.8 3.2 10.2 21.0 .484 - - - 3.5 5.8 .600

Season 7
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1985-861978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 72 35.8 18.8 1.2 4.7 5.9 12.6 1.6 0.2 3.8 1.8 6.7 12.8 .526 0.1 0.6 .233 5.3 6.0 .871
Bob McAdoo 60 37.2 24.8 2.2 6.5 8.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 3.6 3.2 9.9 18.8 .529 - - - 4.9 7.5 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 14 38.6 21.6 1.5 5.6 7.1 15.1 1.9 0.1 3.2 3.1 7.9 14.6 .537 0.0 0.8 .000 5.9 7.6 .766
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1986-871979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 80 36.3 23.9 1.5 4.8 6.3 12.2 1.7 0.5 3.8 2.1 8.5 16.4 .522 0.1 0.5 .205 6.7 7.9 .848
Bob McAdoo 58 36.2 21.1 1.7 6.3 8.1 3.4 1.3 1.1 4.1 3.1 8.5 17.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .125 4.1 5.6 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 18 37.0 21.8 1.6 6.2 7.7 12.2 1.7 0.4 2.8 2.1 8.1 15.1 .539 0.1 0.6 .200 5.4 6.6 .831
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1987-881980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 72 36.6 19.6 1.2 5.0 6.2 11.9 1.6 0.2 3.7 2.0 6.8 13.8 .492 0.2 0.8 .196 5.8 6.8 .853
Bob McAdoo 16 20.1 10.3 1.1 3.1 4.2 1.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.4 4.3 9.8 .433 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 24 40.2 19.9 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.6 1.4 0.2 3.5 2.5 7.0 13.7 .514 0.3 0.6 .500 5.5 6.5 .852
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1988-891981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 77 37.5 22.5 1.4 6.4 7.9 12.8 1.8 0.3 4.1 2.2 7.5 14.8 .509 0.8 2.4 .314 6.7 7.3 .911
Bob McAdoo 41 18.2 9.6 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.8 0.5 0.9 1.2 2.7 3.7 8.0 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 14 37.0 18.4 1.1 4.9 5.9 11.8 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.1 6.1 12.4 .489 0.7 2.5 .286 5.6 6.1 .907
Bob McAdoo 14 27.7 16.7 1.5 5.3 6.8 1.6 0.7 1.5 2.5 3.1 7.2 12.8 .564 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .681

Season 11
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1989-901982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 79 37.2 22.3 1.6 5.0 6.6 11.5 1.7 0.4 3.7 2.1 6.9 14.4 .480 1.3 3.5 .384 7.2 8.1 .890
Bob McAdoo 47 21.7 15.0 1.6 3.6 5.3 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.3 6.2 12.0 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 9 41.8 25.2 1.3 5.0 6.3 12.8 1.2 0.1 4.0 3.1 8.4 17.2 .490 0.6 2.8 .200 7.8 8.8 .886
Bob McAdoo 8 20.8 10.9 1.9 3.9 5.8 0.6 1.4 1.3 1.8 2.9 4.6 10.5 .440 0.3 0.8 .333 1.4 1.8 .786

Season 12
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1990-911983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 79 37.1 19.4 1.3 5.6 7.0 12.5 1.3 0.2 4.0 1.9 5.9 12.4 .477 1.0 3.2 .320 6.6 7.3 .906
Bob McAdoo 70 20.8 13.1 1.2 3.0 4.1 1.1 0.6 0.7 1.8 2.6 5.0 10.7 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 3.8 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 19 43.3 21.8 1.2 6.9 8.1 12.6 1.2 0.0 4.1 2.3 6.2 14.1 .440 1.1 3.7 .296 8.3 9.4 .882
Bob McAdoo 20 22.4 14.0 1.5 3.9 5.4 0.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.2 5.6 10.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.1 .704

Note: Magic Johnson didn't play in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Season 13
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season 1995-961984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 32 29.9 14.6 1.3 4.5 5.7 6.9 0.8 0.4 3.2 1.5 4.3 9.2 .466 0.7 1.8 .379 5.4 6.3 .856
Bob McAdoo 66 19.0 10.5 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.4 2.6 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.5 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 4 33.8 15.3 2.0 6.5 8.5 6.5 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.8 3.8 9.8 .385 0.8 2.3 .333 7.0 8.3 .848
Bob McAdoo 19 20.9 11.4 1.3 3.2 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.4 1.7 3.5 4.8 10.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.5 .745

Season 14
Magic Johnson Bob McAdoo
Season -1985-86
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob McAdoo 29 21.0 10.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 1.2 0.3 0.6 1.7 2.2 4.0 8.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob McAdoo 5 14.6 10.8 1.6 1.2 2.8 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.4 2.6 4.0 7.2 .556 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.2 .875
Share: